1Preparing Friendly Seasonal Climate Forecasts for Users and the Media

Learning objectives To instill an understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with the preparation, interpretation, communication, use and evaluation of climate forecast information to support decision-making through the media. To use mass communication in effectively disseminating climate information to the publicIdentify audiences and tailor messages to those audiences To utilize plain (appropriate) language and minimize jargon To explain forecast systems and limitations, but try to avoid controversy To establish credibility; give forecasts when the signal is strong To identify and present example(s) of key management decision points where forecasts could be usefu